Felon Killed Officer, Fatally Shot Driver Of Vehicle: Police

Crime & Safety

Felon Killed Officer, Fatally Shot Driver Of Vehicle: Police A 23-year-man is charged in the line-of-duty death of Chicago Police Officer Enrique Martinez.

CHICAGO — During a news conference Wednesday, officials announced charges against a 23-year-old convicted felon out on electronic monitoring who is accused of killing Chicago Police Officer Enrique Martinez.

Darion McMillian is facing felony charges of first-degree murder of a police officer, first-degree murder, attempted murder of a police officer, residential burglary, unlawful use of a weapon-machine gun and unlawful use of a weapon by a felon.

"On Monday night, we lost a hero," Snelling said. "This individual should not have been on our streets with a fully automatic weapon that was used to kill Ofcr Martinez and another individual in the car."

>>> 'Courageous Hero' Officer Enrique Martinez Killed In Line Of Duty: CPD

Around 8:05 p.m. Monday, 6th (Gresham) District officers, including Martinez, stopped a vehicle occupied by three people in the 8000 block of South Ingleside because it was blocking traffic, CPD Chief of Detectives Antoinette Ursitti said during Wednesday's news conference.

While Martinez and another officer were talking to the driver of the vehicle, they noticed the front-seat passenger, later identified as McMillian, reaching for a bag on the floor, Ursitti said.

When they ordered McMillan to stop reaching, Ursitti said McMillian pulled out a gun with a machine-gun conversion device and began firing, striking Martinez and the driver of the vehicle.

McMillian pushed the gravely injured driver out of the vehicle and got behind the wheel in an attempt to escape, Ursitti said. The other officer grabbed McMillian's arm in an attempt to stop him from driving off, when McMillian put the car in reverse. Ursitti said the officer was dragged for several feet when his gun discharged.

After crashing the vehicle, McMillian ran into an apartment occupied by a woman, Ursitti said. He used a knife to cut off his electronic monitoring device before leaving the residence.

Ursitti said that McMillian was on electronic monitoring out of Will County for an attempt to defraud a drug and alcohol screening test. In 2020, he and four other Will County jail inmates were also accused of attacking and beating another inmate.

McMillian was apprehended 10 minutes after the shooting in the 8000 block of South Maryland Street.

Snelling said the officer who was dragged was being treated for non-life threatening injuries, and coping with the trauma of watching his partner get killed.

Martinez was rushed in a patrol car to University of Chicago Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead. The driver of the vehicle that McMillian was riding in was also fatally shot by gunfire that came from inside the vehicle.

The young police officer would have marked his third anniversary with the Chicago Police Department in December. Martinez was also engaged and due to get married in a few months.

"In his final moments, he protected our city," Snelling said. "Above all else, it's our duty and our mission to carry on that om provided the night he lost his life."

McMillian is due to appear Thursday for a pre-trial hearing at the Leighton Criminal Court Building.